Chapter Text
Neuvillette Pov:
“Wriothesley’s dead.”
Clorinde’s announces. Neither her nor the traveller are looking at me instead staring at the sluice gate. The plan had failed, I knew we never should have put the future on such a high gamble. He insisted he would be fine, he told me he would make it.
“Open the gate.”
The traveller and Clorinde look at me, confusion and concern written across their face.
“Monsieur, we can’t open the gate it’s far too dangerous.”
I know it is, I know it would kill us. But I should try, what if he survived? What if somehow he survived. I start to ask again, before closing my mouth.
“What happened, tell me what happened.”
I force my voice not to break, gripping my cane tighter. My expression remains neutral, just a blank stare directed towards the gate.
“Everything was going to plan, but he failed to make it under the last gate.”
Paimon starts to explain, it’s the first time I’ve heard the small creature sound solemn. The traveller and Clorinde nod in agreement, taking a couple steps back, none of the three can bear looking at the sluice gate.
“I understand, you three leave and begin to evacuate everyone out of the Fortress of Meropide. I’ll deal with the sea water.”
They all become serious again, but the hints of sadness can be seen through their expression. They rush out of the room, going to evacuate everyone incase the gate breaks. I raise my hand walking towards the sluice gate, attempting to seal it.
Traveller Pov:
I run beside Clorinde, Paimon yelling at everyone to evacuate. The guards all nod, working quickly to bring the prisoners out. As we all file out of the small entrance, only being able to bring a group at a time. There’s murmurs between the prisoners and guards, asking where Wriothesley is and why he isn’t leading the evacuation. Clorinde remains stoic, but I can see how upset she is. As we reach the surface, the groups of prisoners are all getting drenched by the rain. When Clorinde had come down to the Fortress she had mentioned that it had been clear skies,
“The weather in Fontaine really does change quickly, I wonder why that is?”
Paimon asks, floating around and looking at the sky.
“No one knows, the weathers always been this way. Have you ever heard the saying from the little kids, Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon don’t cry.”
Clorinde responds.
“Oh right! We did hear about that from Freminet!”
When we had first come to Fontaine and it suddenly started raining Freminet had told us the folk story about the hydro dragon. Me and Paimon have met multiple Sovereigns before, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the hydro sovereign could cause rain.
Neuvillete Pov:
My hand is shaking, I can’t bring myself to seal it. What if he’s in there? I can’t bring myself to. I know he’s not, I know he’s dead. But can I risk, what if he is alive?
2 weeks ago, while Neuvillete and Wriothesley were planning the idea.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
Wriothesley, confidently as ever, nods along to my words.
“Don’t even worry, I’ll be fine. Come on, don’t tell me you think the Duke of Meropide can’t handle such a simple task.”
Simple task, Don’t worry? How could I possibly not worry?
“It’s not a simple task, I hope you take this seriously Wriothesley.”
He laughs, dismissing my words with a wave.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll take it plenty seriously, I’ve escaped my fair share of near death experiences.”
These words do not comfort me in anyway, in fact they make me more nervous. My feelings towards the other man is undeniable, much to my dismay.
“You are not giving me any sort of comfort.”
He laughs, giving me a smirk.
“I’ll be fine, stop worrying about me.”
“I’m sure you will, but please still take precautions.”
He gives me another half-assed reassurance, then shooing me out of his office because I’ll be late for a trial otherwise. I wouldn’t mind being late for a trial, or anything really, if I’m late because of him. I really should stop thinking this way, he’s my coworker, not even someone who could be considered a ‘friend’. I nod, leaving his office and starting my journey back out of the fortress. My first few trips down here were like a maze, but now that I’m here far more frequently -for a certain someone- I’ve started to understand the layout, for the most part.